ACROSS THE NATION.

Church: Ousted priest stole funds

October 31, 2004|By Items compiled from Tribune news services.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — A former Roman Catholic priest ousted from the ministry for allegedly molesting boys diverted thousands of dollars of church money toward personal expenses, according to a Seattle archdiocese investigation.

The former priest, who was permanently dismissed from the priesthood in September, repaid the money, and the archdiocese later curtailed his authority to deal with parish finances, said Patrick Sursely, financial director of the archdiocese.

The findings were based on a 1991 investigation, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Saturday.